Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/207

Contact: Peter Ronald, Area Traffic Engineer, Tel: (01865) 816139

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CMDT5).

Following introduction of the Buckland Road and Bampton 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit the Cabinet Member for Transport considered a request from Bampton Parish Council to reconsider the introduction of a permit scheme to allow access for exempt vehicles.

Mr Gray advised that the weight limit had had a negative impact on some businesses.  The Parish Council felt that a permit system could be legally introduced and were willing to administer such a scheme.  The number of vehicles involved would be small and a feasibility study should be carried out.

The Deputy Director of Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport confirmed that the County Council had not received any direct concerns from any businesses in Bampton and was therefore of the opinion that the scheme was satisfactory and there was no need for a permit scheme.

The Cabinet Member referred back to the support for the original decision to introduce the weight limit and to allow exempt vehicles back into the zone now would diminish the effectiveness of the limit and in any event there were exemptions for vehicles to access premises within the restricted area.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him and the further considerations set out above the Cabinet Member for Transport confirmed his decision not to proceed with the introduction of a permit scheme for the Buckland Road and Bampton 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit zone.